The Importance of Early Treatment
for Developmental Delays

It is one of the worst situations for any parent. The beautiful child they brought home from the hospital is not developing at a normal rate. His fine motor skill range is limited and he displays a lack of socialization, even in familiar settings. By age two he speaks no words, even though the other children his age now speak in two-word sentences. By age three his peers are saying a great deal more, and still this child says nothing. The child’s parents are not sure what to do.

According to Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates, approximately 17 percent of children in the United States have some form of a developmental disability. Only about 20 to 30 percent of these children are diagnosed and treated prior to school entrance. This occurs despite the fact that early and intensive intervention can have a profound impact on the quality of life for both children at risk and their families.

“Any medical condition that involves a child can have a detrimental effect on the entire family,” relates Lara Morse, M.D., Pediatric Neurologist and Director of the Pediatric Developmental Center at Saint Barnabas Medical Center. “Whether the condition is autism or seizures or learning disabilities, the effect is devastating to the family. Everyone dreams of having a healthy child. When your child isn’t like the other children and life takes a different turn, it is a huge disappointment.”

Help and Hope
Fortunately for parents with developmentally delayed children, there are many medical services and therapies that can greatly help each child reach his or her full potential. Dr. Morse adds that it is very important that these programs be initiated as soon as possible for the greatest benefit of the child.

“The sooner we can get them evaluated and into services, the better they will do,” says Dr. Morse. “If you wait until language and other delayed skills finally emerge it may be too late because the child will have missed a great deal. We provide programs that teach how to socialize, how to speak and a range of other early intervention services. In a few years of work we have the potential to wipe that original diagnosis away.”

The Division of Developmental Pediatrics, located at the Saint Barnabas Ambulatory Care Center, offers comprehensive evaluation and treatment with a variety of therapies.

Treatment is available for the following conditions:
• Asperger Syndrome
• Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
• Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorder
• Developmental delay
• Headaches
• Learning Disabilities
• Seizure disorders
• Social and behavioral problems
• Tics and Tourette syndrome

The Pediatric Develop-mental Center provides medically diagnostic services for infants, children and adolescents with developmental problems or learning delays. Dr. Morse, along with a team of health care providers, including neuropsychologists, speech and language pathologists, audiologists, and physical and occupational therapists, helps to identify problems and map out treatment plans. As a neurologist, Dr. Morse is able to address broader neurological issues for the most thorough approach for every child.

Diagnosis and Treatment
An accurate diagnosis is of utmost importance to connect the child with the most appropriate treatments and services. The diagnosis of a child with any delay is difficult because children often display non-specific learning disabilities and the condition can stem from a variety of causes. For example, a child with delayed speech could have articulation difficulty, motor problems, a hearing issue or a more serious medical condition.

In addition, children may have more than one health issue that is affecting their development. Their situations are quite individual, relates Dr. Morse, and this requires a comprehensive medical approach that can diagnose even subtle underlying problems.

After the diagnosis has been made, the medical team creates a plan for the child that could include speech therapy, occupation or physical therapy, neurological or psychological assessment and treatment, and medical care for any underlying condition.

When to Seek Help
Dr. Morse advises parents to trust their intuitive instincts and says they may detect an area of concern even before their child’s pediatrician.

“The minute a parent feels that there is a problem they should bring their child in,” says Dr. Morse. “As soon as the child begins to receive proper therapy his development can progress.”

She adds that although some parents might be afraid of a label attached to special services, most understand how much these programs can help. Dr. Morse recalls one family who hesitated to have their daughter evaluated for Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) until the child had become a teenager and the problem was acute. The teen finally demanded medical assistance and once her parents “saw how beautifully she did with treatment,” they gave their full support.

In general, more and more parents are seeking help for children at increasingly early ages.

“Parents want to feel that they can do something to help their child instead of just helplessly watching him or her slip away,” says Dr. Morse.

Expert Care
Dr. Morse is a graduate of Dartmouth College and Tufts University School of Medicine. She completed her general pediatric training at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, New Hampshire. She completed a residency in pediatric and adult neurology and a pediatricepilepsy fellowship at Tufts New England Medical Center/Floating Hospital for Children in Boston, Massachusetts.

Before joining the staff at Saint Barnabas Medical Center, Dr. Morse practiced medicine in the Division of Pediatric Neurology at Tufts New England Medical Center/Floating Hospital for Children.

Getting Help The Pediatric Developmental Center at Saint Barnabas Medical Center is located at the Saint Barnabas Ambulatory Care Center’s Pediatric Specialty Center at 200 South Orange Avenue, Livingston. The Center can be reached by calling (973) 322-7570.